The Whistle & Page Logo: Story, Symbolism & Community Behind the Design
I was still working in my corporate job when the first whisper of Whistle & Page came to life. I was on maternity leave — suspended in that strange, raw, transformative time that so many women now name Matrescence. My entire sense of self was shifting. Priorities reordered themselves. Perceptions tilted. The old measures of success — KPIs, titles, quarterly reports — lost their shine, replaced by the rhythm of feeding, the alchemy of bonding, the fragile joy of witnessing a tiny human unfold.
In that season, something else stirred. A longing to create with my hands, to hold space for stories and beauty, to make something lasting and soulful. Whistle & Page was still only a feeling, a whisper — but I knew it was mine.
When it came time to find a logo, I didn’t hand over a slick design brief. I gave Mayzelle (the most extraordinary designer and mind-reader disguised as a human) nothing more than a handful of vibes and a scratchy sketch. Yet she saw me. She saw the vision I hadn’t yet been able to articulate. And what she drew for me wasn’t just a logo — it was a mirror, a compass, and a calling card.
Because every curve and line of this logo carries meaning.
The whistle is twofold: it’s a call to gather, to come closer, to sit shoulder to shoulder in community. And it’s also the whistle of a kettle — a sound so ordinary, so deeply comforting, that it anchors you instantly in a kitchen, in warmth, in ritual.
The ampersand — that humble little “&” — became the heartbeat of the whole design. Mayzelle made it prominent, because it isn’t filler. It’s the bridge. The kettle-shaped body represents handmade pottery — grounded, imperfect, human. The spout stretches into prongs, like the open pages of a book, rising up with steam and story intertwined. The “&” is continuation itself: pottery & books, art & life, you & me, now & next. It’s the symbol of possibility, of more to come, of never being finished.
Even the pages that shape the kettle remind me of what Whistle & Page has always been about: sharing, listening, holding space for stories and creativity. They are arms opening wide, inviting connection, collaboration, and community. And all of this sits inside a circle — a form as old as time. The circle represents community, wholeness, and the ancient practice of gathering to craft, to tell tales, and to pass down knowledge. It’s a reminder that none of this work exists in isolation.
And then — full circle, quite literally. For my 40th birthday last month, my husband and some of the most generous, wildly creative friends turned Mayzelle’s design into proper, official, glorious signage that now stands proud at the front of Whistle & Page. I can’t tell you what it felt like to see it: that little whisper of an idea, born during midnight feeds and identity shifts, now hammered into wood and carved into metal, standing in the sun.
It wasn’t just a sign. It was a testament to every supporter, every ally, every friend who has breathed life into this journey with me. The hands that made it, the love that built it, the community that continues to gather around it — they’ve turned a logo into a living emblem.
At 40, I stood there looking at it and thought: this is what it means for a symbol to hold so much. It’s not just Whistle & Page’s mark in the world. It’s my reminder of what matters most: people, stories, craft, community, and the endless possibility of “&”.
Whistle & Page has grown into more than a pottery studio — it’s a space where handmade pottery, children’s books, and storytelling come together in community. Every mug, vase, and page carries the same intention as the logo itself: to gather, to share, to create. For those who value artisan craftsmanship, creative storytelling, and handmade pottery in Australia, this little corner of the world will always have room for you at the table — kettle whistling, pages turning, and the promise of “&” still unfolding.
Until next time,
Nawsheen, your friendly homebody artist from Murrumbateman.
